Ontario Leads Growing Opposition to the Federal Carbon Tax

New Brunswick joins Saskatchewan to Support Ontario’s Case Against the Unconstitutional Disguised Tax

Ontario's Government for the People is gaining support across Canada in its fight against the federal government's unconstitutional carbon tax. In addition to the Province of Saskatchewan, the Province of New Brunswick has now also joined Ontario's challenge to the federal government's Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, which is an unconstitutional, disguised tax.

"The federal carbon tax will eliminate jobs and make life more difficult for families, seniors and everyone who works hard to get ahead in Ontario and across our country," said Premier Doug Ford. "We are on the front lines of this fight because the costs for people and communities are simply unacceptable, whether in Ontario, in Saskatchewan, in New Brunswick or everywhere people are bracing for this new tax."

Canadians across the country are calling on the federal government to eliminate the unconstitutional carbon tax and let the provinces decide how best to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Ontario has already intervened in the reference case Saskatchewan has launched to its Court of Appeal.

"We are thankful for the support of Premier Ford and Premier Higgs, and the people of Ontario and New Brunswick, for intervening in our case against this unconstitutional and harmful federally imposed carbon tax," said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. "Premier Ford and Minister Mulroney have shown great leadership in introducing a constitutional challenge against this job killing carbon tax, and Saskatchewan is proud to stand with the people of Ontario in this fight. The federal government should respect the court process by delaying the imposition of this harmful and job-killing tax until the courts have rendered a final decision."

New Brunswick has intervened in the reference case in Saskatchewan as well and has now joined Ontario's challenge.

"The Province of New Brunswick is on track to meet and exceed carbon emission reduction targets by 2030. We believe the federal government's carbon tax unfairly targets our business and is too heavy a financial burden for ordinary New Brunswickers and Canadians alike," said New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs. "That is why we have made good on our promise to join Saskatchewan and Ontario in court to fight a federally imposed carbon tax."

The province has released for consultation a new, made-in-Ontario environment plan tailored to the province's specific priorities and regional challenges and opportunities while striking the right balance between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. While our plan sets out a clear path as to how Ontario will achieve our share of the Paris targets, the federal government demonstrated yesterday that they do not.

"Ontario is doing its share to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; our families, workers and businesses have already made significant sacrifices to get here, and there is no justification to punish them further with a carbon tax," said Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. "With our environment plan, Ontario will continue to protect the environment while respecting taxpayers."

We are not alone in this fight. Ontario looks forward to continuing to work with partner provinces to support families, communities and jobs across the country.

Quick Facts

Ontario is arguing that the provinces, not the federal government, have the primary responsibility to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and that the charges the act seeks to impose are in fact unconstitutional, disguised taxation.

Parties wishing to seek leave to intervene in the reference have until the end of the day today to file their materials with the Court of Appeal.